Starz Dates “Spartacus,” Plans “Outlander”

Starz have announced the premiere date for “Spartacus: War of the Damned”, the final season of their successful “Spartacus” franchise. The series is set to return Friday, January 25th at 9pm US-ET/PT.

New actors this season include Todd Lasance as Gaius Julius Caesar, Simon Merrells as Marcus Crassus and Anna Hutchison as Laeta.

Meanwhile, the network has also closed a deal with Sony Pictures TV to develop Diana Gabaldon’s fantasy novel series “Outlander” into a drama series. “Battlestar Galactica” developer/executive producer Ron Moore will write the adaptation.

The story follows Claire, an engaged WWII combat nurse who accidentally steps back in time to the Scottish Highlands of 1743. There she is forced to marry Jamie, a gallant and passionate young Scots warrior.

She soon ignites a passionate love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.